I’m also going to speculate some of the seats from here ended up at Dipson’s Bativia Mall (GCC style seats with the Pepsi logo scraped off – from when GCC switched over to coke right before AMC took them over).

Of coarse this is a shame, I remember a NFP trying to run the site and they couldn’t make a go of it. While I hate to see a theatre close, Frank Theaters is the only chain that I know of that have seasonal operations – mostly because aside from very few boardwalk attractions most Jersey shore towns close-up after mid-September till May (with the exception being Atlantic City which does steady convention business all year long) – although I’m sure the theaters do excellent business during the summer.

I’ve asked this before on another thread (apologies in advance) – are there any other theaters in other parts of the country, likely resort areas that close for months at a time?

Here’s some pics – View link – It looks like there are at least two bars – one on the first floor next to the “new” concession stand by Theaters 1 and 2 and one on the mezzine level for Theaters 1 & 2 (where they had a short lived cafe I believe for a few years). The Concession Stand of the Future looks like it has an impressive selection including flavored popcorn (the large is $9.75!) and includes the new Coke Freestyle machines.

The theater predates “Downtown Disney” – it’s original 10-screen configuration was an entertainment anchor of Pleasure Island, along with Planet Hollywood (both were off Pleasure Island proper, ie: allowing access to those 21 and under after 6PM without an adult). The theatre expanded to 24 screens with the opening of Downtown Disney West Side and got a second box office and entrance adjacent to the now defunct Virgin Megastore.

The theater is also getting a Fork & Screen “upgrade” (my guess is the original concession stand adjacent to Hyperon Wharf (a re-envisioning of Pleasure Island and open in 2013) will become McGuffins and the 5 right side theaters will become the Fork & Screen auditoriums). Perhaps other upgrades (as suggested by cgimovieman) will occur in the transition as AMC has opened a “Concession Stand of the future” (http://www.laughingplace.com/News-ID513430.asp) – which sounds similar but more extensive version of what Drive-Ins have and the “express” concession General Cinema tried and abandoned in their newer plexes a few years before AMC bought them. AMC is doing weird stuff lately.

Can we name any other seasonal multiplexes? The Jersey shore is unique in towns really do shut down (except Atlantic City) for the winter – your lucky if a few arcades and maybe a restaurant or two are open at some beaches during the winter.

Here’s an interesting description of one of their theaters – which sounds like a work in progress never finished: /theaters/12337/

I’ve only ever been to their Towne 16 which I found odd because the aisle stairs of the stadium seating weren’t carpeted but the whole Handicap row at the median was. The stairs/aisle portion was just tiled.

They also were going to co-operate (with Muvico) the Fredricksville, VA theater Paragon opened with the Muvico brand. Several other sites they pitch never seem to pan out/open – and oddly they claim to have a development they’re working on in Syracuse, NY – an odd out of market expansion.

That and perhaps they want to operate theaters with a full running season, although Moorlyn had been upgraded to stadium seating years back. Perhaps here’s the place to ask this question: Franks seems to be (correct me if I’m wrong) a real estate investment company – there was a relationship with Hoyts who I believe used to run the Frank’s flagship the Towne 16 and the Strand. What was the deal with Hoyts/Frank Theaters? (they also interestingly enough finished a Hoyts in Bayonne – the South Cove Cinema 12 which seems to really only be a 10-plex). Hopefully we can pool our collective knowledge here and try to figure out what the deal is with Frank Theaters….

To the best of my knowledge the XD format was created in response to IMAX’s once strict policy of granting exclusive zone licenses to an exhibitor, this is why AMC runs all the IMAX theaters in Manhattan and Regal built converted an auditorium to RPX across from an AMC IMAX. AMC couldn’t get an IMAX at Younge & Dundas and thus they launched ETX. IMAX has since relaxed restrictions, if they are unable to get an exhibitor to agree to their terms they allow another exhibitor to build an IMAX (in Canada they couldn’t agree with Cineplex, who has its own Ultra AVX and had inherited IMAX sites from Famous Players – so they let AMC build an IMAX at Younge & Dundas after all).

Virtually all, I think except Carmike had IMAX installs or agreements with IMAX, rather telling is Cinemark had only film prints, which explained why their IMAX in Rochester was unable to get new bookings on break (I think Toy Story 3 came late, or not at all). My favorite description I remember reading was that a Rave Motion Pictures Fallen Timbers they kept saying they were building an “IMAX like screen” – an article then cited that negotiations with IMAX kept them from revealing if it was going to be IMAX branded or not, this became one of their first Rave Revue screens.

I suppose this goes to the core of what Cinema Treasures is – I like to think it’s mission extends from the excellent Cinema Treasures book by Ross Melnick and Andreas Fuchs and supplements the material there. With that said there are other sites appealing to theater operators (Film-Tech is a more appropriate venue, they have a classifieds thread). I’m all for the news feed displaying items, perhaps even memorabilia for classic theaters and information on how to purchase this – but the idea of randomly posting here and having it appear on the front page reflects poorly on the site, and perhaps they should solicit more members for moderator roles – even to chime in and get the conversation on some threads on topic.

I have written to the moderators using the proper form here about one hopeless thread for a multiplex that has over 1000+ entries most of which is off topic/tangental babel and banter amongst members, the theater is less than 4 years old! These conversations should be housed somewhere else. I would just hate to see the value of the site – which is at its core is a hobby (although I think someone could do a doctoral dissertation on exhibition, I would only take what’s here with a certain amount of other fact checking), be devalued by a lack of direction as much as I value its openness.

I have no doubt AMC does it wrong based on two experiences at Essex Green (the first it took an hour to get popcorn – which was then cold, the second time, 40 minutes to get a drink and my glass of wine came before my friend’s coke). I’m not sold on the idea yet but if Gold Class or National Amusements' Lux Level were an option – I might give them a try.

I don’t mind expanded food concessions (the Scotibank Theatre in Toronto is wonderful during the film festival – you could survive for days with their multiple concession stands – when they’re open – another complaint I have). Perhaps AMC just has some kinks to work out but I found the whole thing to be a bit distracting, they need more compelling finger foods.

Another stat I like is in the corner of the page – since 2008 the price of a large popcorn at the AMC Jersey Gardens has gone up 48%?!?!

It hasn’t upgraded to stadium seating, although Theatre #2 has digital projection for 3D showing some signs of confidence from AMC. They have yet to do a full digital upgrade.

In truth upgrading it to stadium seating would present many limitations – the projection booths are a few steps up – there’s no height to pull it off without gutting the place. The seats also appear to be original as well. The theater also never received an upgrade to the AMC of the 90’s look (white, blue, pink) and still has it’s 1980’s charm (dark red, light browns). The staff/management keep the place spotless. The theater also is experimenting with different price structures – last summer all shows Monday-Thursday were $4.50, now they are discounting M-Th adult admission to $6.75 with Fri-Sun at $9.

It still holds its own being close to University at Buffalo’s North Campus (although the school runs free midnight movies at the Dipson’s Amherst Theater on Saturday across from UB South) – although I wish AMC would retreat from the market altogether and for Dipson to take over its lease as I think a more localized approach to the film programing would lead to a more interesting movie selection.

Destinta Theatres is a bit of a mystery to me – nothing is really known about them, they’ve made no comment on the closure of Independence Plaza.

All of the theaters seemed to pop up (1998-2000)– pretty much at random in the Northeast (NJ/PA/CT) right about the same time, including some very large theaters (a 24-screener of theirs opened close to and was responsable for a new Loews 20-plex closing 14 months after it opened: /theaters/5793/)) Searching news archives on them, it appears since they opened their fleet they’ve had no desire to expand and are based in Lodi, NJ – interestingly enough they have no theaters in the Northern NJ area.

The Clairidge does occasionally lack attention to details like this, and the way some of the theaters especially #4 has been constructed (very obnoxious keystoning more obvious in flat than scope). #6 used to be the worst, especially since the screen is on a slant providing odd slight-lines, They blocked off an exit and reduced seat out (for fire code) and they seemed to have corrected the majority of its issues. #4, an odd shaped auditorium needs to be upgraded to boothless digital so they can correct the keystoning issues. Another Clearview with unacceptably crappy projection that they didn’t think was necessary to fix in the past 13 years they’ve owned the place.

Save for Black Swan and King’s Speech – both are playing the 16 plex is showing ALL of the same films as the 12 plex, some even with the same showtime (if going to the movies in Schereville, IN – you can catch Harry Potter at either plex at 6:25PM). This situation has me curious.

It was run by Clearview – while it was shocking to me then in retrospect nothing shocks me about that chain, they have such little regard for the customer experience (including proper masking/projection) – they actually for a little while got better, but I have many stories about how notoriously crappy their theaters are. I can forgive a small mom and pop operator or a small chain for inconsistencies from time to time, but Clearview is a major chain (that runs crappy theaters built on the cheap) AND charges first run prices that are equal to and in most cases more than the large national chains that offer better amenities.

Quick proof how downright evil they are: the Clairidge in Montclair FOR ONE WEEK ONLY had decided to eliminate matinee, senior (the majority of their audience I’d guesstimate), and child pricing – all seats, all times $10.50. After bad publicity they revered the policy the next week.

If I remember correctly Last Action Hero was “such a mega hit” at the Colonial for the first week they had it on both screens! That and I remember the Colonial having reel to reel projection.

There’s a few reasons the place didn’t/couldn’t survive: newer plexes around in Kinnelon (the worst movie theater in the country in terms of projection) and Wayne (circa that time getting upgraded from 8 to 14 screens). Not to mention the place was a bit run down, musty, ect. Downtown Pompton Lakes barely had any activity: if they some how could have encouraged more businesses like restaurants to open up, The Colonial might have sustained itself.

When the DOJ and individual states consider these mergers they look at market saturation and determine if AMC will have too much market share that it can manipulate ticket prices. AMC in this case has been ceding market share by consolidating screens, here they consolidated downwards from 18 probably in a single booking territory to 8, I don’t know the circumstances. I know when Rave closed the Maumee 18: Cinema De Lux in Ohio they did so because it was the only property they owned, the others around it were leased and therefore if they pulled out of one of those properties they would have in violation of a lease and had the risk of another operator coming in.

Where I show concern is that AMC is closing rural theaters – granted if folks in rural areas were cinephiles they’d move to large cities. The cinema perhaps isn’t as essential a tool for building a form of self identity in a collective society as it once was (when some of these sites in question and recently were built, many before TV – I’m thinking of the rural twins and singles, not the Hamilton 10). Only one I know of (the Mall 3 in Iowa) has been acquired. I wish AMC had done the honorable thing and that would be to run them in the short term, some of these rural sites are allegedly 30-40 miles from another cinema.

There’s an embedded video tour of the place (from YouTube) on Eisentraut Theaters' website. It’s not easy to see why AMC decided this place wasn’t in their model: it’s the type of theatre they abandoned running in the 80’s even though it probably still does well (although the margins aren’t nearly what they’d be at a 24-plex). Despite the fact the owner of the chain has expressed some bizarre and controversial views on this site a few years ago – I wish the operation well for the sake of the community.